Fishing for Catastrophe

The report finds that the production of fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO) for aquaculture is driving the collapse of fish stocks and compromising food security in India, Vietnam, and The Gambia. It establishes links between these unsustainable practices and major European retailers and aquafeed companies, arguing that current certification by the Marine Ingredients Organisation (IFFO) acts as a 'sustainability smokescreen'. The document recommends a total phase-out of wild-caught fish in aquafeed in favor of sustainable alternatives and a shift toward farming omnivorous or herbivorous species.

• The production of fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO) for global aquaculture is causing the collapse of fish stocks, harming food security, and damaging the socioeconomic structure of coastal communities, exacerbated by climate change and pollution.
• In India, FMFO plants are incentivizing the capture of juvenile fish and non-traditional species, leading to ecosystem imbalances and the violation of fishing bans intended for ecosystem recovery.
• Vietnam's FMFO industry is characterized by significant underreporting of catches, unauthorized transshipment at sea, and the use of indiscriminate fishing techniques, leading to declining stocks and regional tensions due to fishing in foreign waters.
• In The Gambia, the FMFO industry has a massive scale relative to national catches, with one plant accounting for approximately 40% of the country's total reported fish catches in 2016. Much of this is exported illegally without food-safety certificates, often via Vietnam to China.
• The Marine Ingredients Organisation (IFFO) is described as unfit for certification because its dual role creates a conflict of interest, allowing its membership to serve as a 'sustainability smokescreen' for companies using unsustainable fishing practices.
• The report identifies a lack of traceability in European retail supply chains, linking numerous major retailers in the UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, and Spain to aquafeed companies and processors involved in unsustainable FMFO sourcing.

APA

Changing Markets Foundation (2019). Fishing for Catastrophe. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CM-EX-SUMMARY-FINAL-WEB-FISHING-THE-CATASTROPHE-2019-.pdf

Chicago

Changing Markets Foundation. Fishing for Catastrophe. 2019. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CM-EX-SUMMARY-FINAL-WEB-FISHING-THE-CATASTROPHE-2019-.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Changing Markets Foundation |title=Fishing for Catastrophe |date=October 2019 |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CM-EX-SUMMARY-FINAL-WEB-FISHING-THE-CATASTROPHE-2019-.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{changingmarketsfoundation2019fishing, author = {{Changing Markets Foundation}}, title = {{Fishing for Catastrophe}}, institution = {Changing Markets Foundation}, year = {2019}, month = oct, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CM-EX-SUMMARY-FINAL-WEB-FISHING-THE-CATASTROPHE-2019-.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }